Steve Wilson

Pompey boss: Youngster can prove critics wrong

Steve Cotterill has admitted he is prepared to play the waiting game to get his top loan targets.

In stark contrast to last season when the Blues boss had to plug some gaping holes in his squad with a succession of temporary additions, he now has the benefit of supplementing his existing resources.

Once the transfer deadline has passed next Wednesday, Premier League clubs must name their 25-man squads to see them through until January.

And that will mean some quality players who aren’t included will be made available for loan once the emergency loan window re-opens for clubs in the Football League.

Cotterill said: ‘We’ve said we would be looking for three more players, if possible. It didn’t mean they would necessarily be permanent signings.

‘They could always come on an emergency loan after the window re-opens. We’ll have to wait and see. We are still working on one or two things.

‘We are looking for players to come from Premier League clubs. So until those guys get their squads sorted, it makes it a little bit more difficult for us in the Championship waiting for players who are not going to be in their 25-man squads.

‘That’s the way it is.’

Cotterill’s squad is in far better shape than this time last year and he remains optimistic his side can make real progress this season.

He said: ‘We’re quite happy at the moment with the work we’ve done and the money we’ve spent trying to assemble this squad because we haven’t spent much money doing that. That’s the real bonus with all of it.

‘Hopefully, we can look forward to the campaign ahead with some optimism.’